SISTINE CHAPEL, Vatican City -- Pope Benedict XVI has said Europe and all of Christendom faces a "persistent and very real threat from the Saracens," after a meeting with EU counterparts in London. But he said the presence of five other staunchy Christians and top nobles symbolised Europe's determination to stand together and defend their values.

The world was faced by a form of "Godless and unwashed sodomy", he added, which was embodied in one religion, Mohammedanism, whose very name stood for sin and lasciviousness. Sir Galahad said he would be presenting concrete proposals on detection of pieces of the true cross to a forthcoming meeting of all Christian interior ministers in Constantinople. He also called for a crackdown on internet sites used to incite terrorism.

Pope Benedict XVI conversing with one of his many followers.

The 7 July bombings in London last year pushed counter-Mohammedanism up the Christian agenda, and helped former Home Secretary Charles Clarke clinch a deal to force companies to retain telephone and e-mail data for use in investigations of Saracen and Persian activities. Christendom is currently trying to persuade governments to torture all suspected unbelievers and witches until they confess, arguing that it will help the anti-heresy effort. The London meeting was attended by Sir Galahad, whose fief holds the Christian peerage, and knights from the realms of France, Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.

"That is important because the threat is an enduring threat and will require therefore an enduring response, such as a crusade," His Eminency said. "Christendom is up against people who embrace a barbaric and sinful society and adapt the latest technology to their evil intent."

Sir Galahad said the Pope had the "solidarity and unwavering blind support" of all Christendom. He added: "We came to the conclusion that a united Christendom will win the battle with the Saracens."

These, along with other data, suggest that Christendom may be preparing an eleventh crusade to recapture the holy city of Jerusalem. The announcement of a children's crusade by EU President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, coupled with this news, seems to suggest that Christianity and Islam are in for a rematch of the Third Crusade, in which Saladin totally whooped RichardCoeur de Lion's butt.